Nature, as well as nurture, shapes human gut microbiomeMedscapeThe composition of an individual's gut microbiome is influenced not just by environmental exposure but also by the genetics of the host. The resulting human gut microbiome affects host metabolism, thereby contributing to obesity.
Julia K. Goodrich, a graduate student at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and colleagues published their analysis of the TwinsUK population in the November issue of Cell.

Measure, Monitor Immunoglobulin Treatment OutcomesBioFeedback for immunoglobulin is a health outcomes reporting program that provides clinical feedback on the use of immunoglobulin in autoimmune-related disorders. Physicians and medical directors can now deploy clinical interventions when they have the greatest impact on healthcare quality and costs.

'Blind spots' in DNA may conceal cancer genesMedical News TodayAlthough gene-reading technology is advanced and sophisticated, there are certain parts of DNA that it does not cope with perfectly; for instance, there are repetitive areas of DNA that cause the machinery to "stutter." But there is a way to examine these "blind spots" and discover if they conceal cancer genes.

Personalized medicine, HIEs expected to boost cloud servicesFierceHealthITThe transition to personalized healthcare delivery and incentives for health information exchange are expected to significantly increase the adoption of cloud services in healthcare, according to a new Frost & Sullivan analysis. Cloud services in the U.S. market generated $903.1 million in 2013 and are expected to hit $3.5 billion in 2020.

This woman's revolutionary startup could change 900,000 surgeries a yearBusiness InsiderIf you've ever broken a bone, you know the process to recovery is slow and painful.
Now imagine neither splint nor surgery were enough to seal the fracture. Instead, your doctor says you need a bone graft, a procedure that involves taking bone from elsewhere to fill the gap created by your injury.

Production of human motor neurons from stem cells is gaining speedScience CodexThe motor neurons that innervate muscle fibers are essential for motor activity. Their degeneration in many diseases causes paralysis and often death among patients. Researchers at the Institute for Stem Cell Therapy and Exploration of Monogenic Diseases, in collaboration with CNRS and Paris Descartes University, have recently developed a new approach to better control the differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells, and thus produce different populations of motor neurons from these cells in only 14 days.

InSightec - World Leader in MRgFUSMRgFUS is being used in clinics across America to treat uterine fibroids and pain palliation for metastatic bone tumors. It’s a completely non-invasive procedure performed on an outpatient basis where patients report an improvement in QoL within days, not weeks. Discover InSightec now.

Molecular time signalling controls stem cells during brain's developmentMedical XpressResearchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have succeeded in explaining how stem cells in the brain change to allow one type of stem cell to produce different cell types at different stages. In a study being published in the journal Neuron, researchers show that the signal molecule TGF-beta acts as a time signal that regulates the nerve stem cells' potential at different stages of the brain's development — knowledge that may be significant for future pharmaceutical development.

Mobile medical apps: A market on the moveMIT Technology ReviewNo question about it: The world wants mobile medical apps — and demand won’t slow down any time soon.
“The demand for remote patient monitoring is growing dramatically,” says Jeannette Tighe, from the HealthTech Advisory practice at Sagentia, a global technology advisory and product development company headquartered in Cambridge, U.K.

9 of 10 organizations have engaged in telemedicineHealth IT OutcomesA telemedicine study reveals an industry-wide movement to embrace the technology in hope of providing better quality of care.
According to the 2014 Telemedicine Survey Executive Summary, 90 percent of healthcare leaders said their organization has already begun developing or implementing a telemedicine program.

9 healthcare innovations driven by open dataInformationWeekThree years ago, Jeopardy fans got to see Watson, IBM's supercomputer, beat two human Jeopardy champions to take a $1 million prize. Watson's skill at the game derived not just from its computing power but from its ability to process huge amounts of data rapidly.

The sham drug idea of the year: 'pink Viagra'Los Angeles TimesMany women report losing their desire for sex, some temporarily, some permanently. Is this a relationship problem, a normal aspect of life changes or, as the pharmaceutical industry maintains, an "unmet medical need?" That was the question under consideration for two days of meetings in late October, during which the Food and Drug Administration heard from sexual medicine experts and women with sexual complaints.

Pioneer ACOs can recruit seniors under new CMS testModern HealthcareSince Medicare began its test of accountable care three years ago, participating accountable care organization haven’t asked beneficiaries who aren’t assigned to an ACO if they want to voluntarily enroll. That will change next year when some Pioneer ACOs will give beneficiaries that option. The CMS Innovation Center is testing whether seniors will elect to enroll in an ACO, a term that means little or nothing to many patients despite an aggressive push to promote accountable care among hospitals and doctors.

Questions and confusion as Obamacare approaches 2nd yearMSNBCObamacare has made a big difference for Raghu Raju and his wife. The couple is paying 30% less and receiving more coverage and benefits than before. That’s cut down one of the biggest expenses for their small business in Atlanta, which they quit their jobs to start a few years ago.

How early retirees can get cheap health insurance through ObamacareForbesOpen enrollment for the Affordable Care Act begins Nov. 15. If you are an early retiree, especially between the ages of 55 to 64, you have the opportunity to get large tax credits to help pay for your health insurance coverage if you buy it through the healthcare exchange. And if you play it right, you can even get subsidies to help reduce your out of pocket expenses.

FAST FACTS"The largest waterborne disease outbreak in United States history occurred in 1993 in Milwaukee when over 400,000 people became ill with diarrhea when the parasite Cryptosporidium was found in the city's drinking water supply."

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